Electric light and head-gear for surgical use



(No Model.)

L. W. NEVIUS. I ELECTRIC LIGHT AND HEAD GEAR FOR SURGICAL USE. No.581,129.

Patented Apr. 20, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT EFicE.

LAIRD W. NEVIUS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC LIGHT AND HEAD-GEAR FOR SURGICAL USE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 581 ,129, dated April20, 1897. Application filed March 20, 1896. Serial No, 584,103. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAIRD W. NEvIUs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Electric Lights and Head-Gear for Physiciansand Surgeons, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple,economical, andefficient incandescent electric light and means for supporting it on thehead, so that the physician or surgeon may use the same in operativesurgery or dentistry; and the invention consists in the features,combinations,and details of construction hereinafter described andclaimed. I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimprovement, partly in section, showing the means by which it issupported and positioned; and Fig. 2, a plan view of my improvement,looking at it from the top.

In operative surgery or dentistry, as well as in the general practice ofmedicine, it is often both desirable and necessary for the doctor to beprovided with a light so arranged that the rays will be concentratedupon his work or the portion to be operated on, while at the same timeleaving his hands free and his eyes unencumbered. This is particularlythe case when operations have to be performed at night and the rays ofsurrounding lamps or lights might be apt to interfere with perfectconditions.

To provide an incandescent electric lamp so constructed that its raysmay be focused or thrown on a'desired object and arrange it to beefficiently worn on the head is the principal object of my invention.

I11 constructing my improvement I make a head-gear consisting of a bandA, padded and cushioned, preferably, with non-conducting material toprotect the forehead from the heat of the lamp. This band is providedwith extending bands at a, one of which is provided with a buckle a andthe other with a strap a, so that the same maybe adjusted or tightenedto fit any size of head. One of these portions a or a may be madeelastic, if desired, for the purpose of getting the necessary tension orfit on the head. A band B is secured to the front portion of the mainband and arranged to be passed across the top of the head and fastenedto a buckle b on one of the bands a, so that this also is adjustable forthe purpose of positioning the lamp at the right portion of the head.

An incandescent lamp 0 is provided and secured to a base portion 0,which is held out from the band 011 lugs 0 so as to make an airspace c,through which the air may circulate and keep the parts cool. Thefilaments of the lamp are provided with the usual terminals, to whichare secured insulated cables D D, adapted to be connected with anysuitable source of electric energy. A switch portion E is arranged onthe main portion of the band and connected with the cable D intermediatethe sources of energy and the light, so that the operator has it at alltimes in his power to shut off or turn on the current when desirable ornecessary with the least amount of trouble and inconvenience. The lampportion proper is provided with a shade and reflector G to concentrateand throw the rays in the desired manner as well as to keep them out ofthe eyes of the operator.

.The advantages of my improvement are obvious, as it will be seen thatthe surgeon, doctor, or dentist may wear one of these headgear lightsand concentrate the light as desired, thus enabling him to perform hisoperations with the greatest efiiciency and skill.

I claim- In an incandescent lamp for surgeons, &c. the combination of anadjustable main band adapted to fit around the head, an adjustablesupplementary band secured to the main band and adapted to be passedacross the top of the head, a non-heat-conducting pad or pads secured tothe main band, a base portion, a, for holding the electric lamp, lugs,c, by which the base portion is secured to the main-band portion so asto provide an airspace between such portions, a switch on the main-bandpor tion, and a wire connecting the switch and lamp and adapted toconnect the parts with a source of electric energy, substantially asdescribed.

LAIRD W. NEVIUS. Witnesses:

THOMAS F. SHERIDAN, THOMAS B. MOGREGOR.

